Middle East Event Show 2025 concludes on a high, championing excellence in the events industry
Dubai, UAE – The 16th edition of the Middle East Event Show (MEES) drew to a powerful close, reinforcing its standing as the region's premier platform for live events, experiences, and MICE innovation. For the first time hosted at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre, MEES 2025 delivered a dynamic blend of thought leadership, cutting-edge showcases, and unmatched networking, attracting over 5,600 attendees from across the globe.
The show officially opened on 17 June, led by Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President – Venue Services Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, with Exhibition Director Amar Daginawala and Alan Kelly, Commercial & Strategy Director at Informa. Together, they set the stage for two days of bold ideas and meaningful exchange.
'This region is entering an ultra-accelerated era of event expansion, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' said Amar Daginawala, Exhibition Director of the Middle East Event Show as the industry gears up for the next chapter in Saudi Arabia from 17 – 18 September 2025 at The Arena Riyadh. This year will mark the launch of the Saudi Event Awards that will recognise the exceptional growth and innovation of the events industry in the Kingdom. 'As the industry rapidly scales, conversations around growing the full ecosystem, talent, infrastructure, and innovation, have never been more important. We need to ensure we're expanding capacity with purpose: building internal capability while attracting the right expertise to help shape the future of events in the region.'
His remarks come at a time when the regional events industry is growing rapidly. The GCC events sector, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia is valued at USD 78 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 121 billion by 2029, growing at a rate of 9% each year. Saudi Arabia's event management market is the fastest growing in the region, set to more than double from USD 2.6 billion in 2024 to USD 5.4 billion by 2029, with an annual growth rate of 11%. Backed by Vision 2030 and major infrastructure projects, the Kingdom's MICE sector is also gaining momentum and set to grow significantly in the coming years.
Where Ideas, Innovation, and Industry Converged
Spanning 17–18 June, the exhibition and seminar program brought together trailblazers from more than 40 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, the UK, and the USA. With over 100 exhibitors on the show floor, attendees explored the latest in AV production, logistics, technology, creative services, staffing, and venue capabilities.
The content-rich agenda featured 35+ live sessions across two stages, spotlighting insights from leaders at Coca-Cola Arena, DXB LIVE, One World Rental, Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Electra, Ethara, PurpleGlo, and others. Discussions focused on sustainability, culture-led programming, immersive tech, generative AI, and monetization strategies reshaping audience engagement.
Buildup Powers Bold Experiences Across the Region
As a returning Platinum Sponsor at the Middle East Event Show 2025, Buildup reinforced its position as a driving force in the region's live events and exhibitions industry. With a portfolio spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, Buildup has delivered high-impact projects for global platforms such as ADIPEC, GITEX, IDEX, Cityscape Global, and ATM, partnering with leading organisations including ADNOC, EDGE, Tawazun Council, the Ministry of Interior (KSA), and NHC. Their presence at MEES 2025 reflects not just visibility, but a deeper commitment to shaping the future of experiential events.
With over 17 years of regional and international expertise, Buildup continues to expand its services and creative capabilities across new markets. Their approach goes beyond execution, focusing on immersive brand storytelling, market insight, and innovative design. As the region's experience economy evolves at pace, Buildup's long-term vision is clear: to champion purposeful partnerships, deliver meaningful impact, and set a new benchmark for excellence across the events and exhibitions space.
A Night of Recognition: The Middle East Event Awards 2025
On 19 June, the spotlight shifted to Madinat Jumeirah for the Middle East Event Award, a glittering celebration of the region's most impactful and visionary achievements. Over 1,000 industry leaders came together to honour excellence across 32 categories, from large-scale productions to rising stars and game-changing innovations.
'The awards are a reminder that every event is a creative and operational triumph, powered by people who dream big and deliver even bigger,' said Naomi Warmington, Senior Sustainability Manager at Informa Global and a Judge at the Middle East Event Awards. 'We're here to celebrate the imagination, resilience, and ambition shaping the future of experiences in the region.'
Winners of the Middle East Event Awards 2025:
Best Arts and Culture Event – ImaginExperience for Hegra After Dark
Best Association / Corporate Meeting – Joe Lewis Company (JLC) for Forbes 30/50 International Womens Day Summit
Best Community Event – DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for Hatta Cultural Nights 2024-2025
Best Employer of the Year (<100 employees) – Pop Up Global & Solas Middle East
Best Employer of the Year (>100 employees) – dmg events
Best Entertainment Production – People for 53rd UAE Eid Al Eithad Celebration
Best Event Agency of the Year – People
Best Event Logistics Provider of the Year – EFM Global
Best Event Marketing Campaign of the Year – Live Nation Middle East Presents Coldplay Music of the Spheres World Tour Abu Dhabi, in partnership with DCT
Best Event on a Budget – DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for Dubai Coffee Festival 2024
Best Event Photography & Videography – HH Photoshoot 2025
Best Event Recruitment Agency – ESMOS Recruitment
Best Event Space Design & Décor – Designlab Experience for Layali Diriyah 2025
Best Exhibition of the Year (<10,000 sqm) – NAC Fairs for The Baby Expo Dubai
Best Exhibition of the Year (>10,000 sqm) – Tahaluf for LEAP
Best Festival of the Year – Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi for Kayan Wellness Festival 2025 by LINKVIVA
Best Light & Sound Solution – Creative Technology for Harry Potter
Best Music Event – Live Nation Middle East Presents Coldplay Music of the Spheres World Tour Abu Dhabi, in partnership with DCT
Best Social Event – fischerAppelt for 30 Years Anniversary Qatar Foundation
Best Sporting Event – BONA FIDE for The Longines Global Champions Tour Final & The Global Champions Arabian Tour 2024
Best Staffing Agency of the Year – eventlab
Best Stand Design & Build (<100 sqm) – DXB LIVE, Dubai World Trade Centre for FujiFilm at Medlab Middle East 2025 & The Collective for MINI at Downtown Design
Best Stand Design & Build (>100 sqm) –Buildup for Tawazun Council Stand at IDEX 2025
Best Supplier of the Year – ELECTRA & ShowTex
Best Sustainability Initiative – People for 53rd UAE Eid Al Eithad Celebration
Best Temporary Venue or Structure – ELECTRA for CHANEL Haute Joaillerie Sport Dinner and Exhibition
Best Use of New Technology at an Event – The Originals + Dubai Future Foundation for Our Future(s)
Best Venue (<10,000 sqm) – Space42 Arena
Best Venue (>10,000 sqm) – Etihad Arena
Best Video Solution – Creative Technology for LIWA
Outstanding Brand Activation Event – Informa for World Health Expo (WHX)
Young Achiever of the Year – Ailsa Williamson from Tahaluf
The celebrations of the industry do not come to a close yet as the Saudi Event Awards launch in Riyadh on 18 September with 28 award categories. The awards will gather the who's who of the MICE and live industry honouring companies and people who have delivered exceptional projections in the Kingdom.
The Future Starts Now
As the curtains close on MEES 2025, the energy, momentum, and ambition it sparked will continue to resonate across the region's growing experience economy. The show will return in 2026, with even greater reach, deeper impact, and a renewed commitment to pushing the boundaries of what live events can achieve.
For more information about the Middle East Event Show, please visit the official website: https://informaconnect.com/middle-east-event-show/.
To find out how you can participate in the upcoming Saudi Event Show, visit www.saudi-eventshow.com
CONTACT:
Tricia Jimenea
Email: tricia@comcomea.com
Zyad Mesallati
Email: zyad@comcomea.com
About Informa Connect
Informa Connect is a division of Informa plc, a global business that is listed on the London Stock Exchange and a member of the FTSE 100. Informa plc. has a network of trusted brands in specialist markets across more than 30 countries with 11,000+ colleagues. Informa Connect is a live events and digital platform specialist connecting individuals and professionals with knowledge, ideas and opportunities. Our purpose is to champion the specialist. Through hundreds of powerful brands, we work with businesses and professionals in specialist markets, providing the connections, intelligence and opportunities that help customers grow, do business, make breakthroughs and take better informed decisions. Operating major branded events in Finance, Biotech & Pharma and in a number of other specialist markets and connect communities online year-round.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
14 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
You get a better lifestyle and safety in UAE, says Moldovan expat
Dubai-based CEO Elvira Jain has been in the UAE for 12 years and like most expatriates, says time flies in the Gulf. After a high-flying career as a fashion model, Moldovan-born Jain now runs a communications agency, Ellyse Management. During her career she has boasted collaborations with prestigious brands such as Gucci, Dior and Armani, and now, she's turning her hand to entrepreneurship in the Gulf's fashion capital. If you had to use one word to describe money what would it be? Opportunity. If you had to write a letter to money, what would you say? Due to money we can have the possibility of travelling and having better education and health. It's not the same everywhere but in Dubai you need resources to survive. How would you describe your relationship to money? I respect money. You need to use money smartly. I don't waste money and I calculate well. I do have an economics background, so I try not to overspend. Sometimes it is tricky, because I do like to spend, but I think money comes to people who also respect it and use it in the right direction. Also having a business and having created it by myself, I calculate everything and make projections and budget. How do you think this relationship was formed? When I was in school, aged 7-8, my parents used to pay me for every highest mark I used to get at school and I used to keep the money in a book, so I was really motivated to get better marks and more money. I was also one of the best in class. What good or bad lessons about money management did you learn from your mother? My mom sometimes tends to overspend and sometimes not spend much on unnecessary things so I try to also evaluate if it's worth to spend or not but sometimes is difficult. Who do you speak to about money matters and is it something you consider 'taboo'? I don't consider it a taboo. I can speak to my parents, my husband, and my kids . It cannot be a taboo since it is part of our daily life. Who has taught you the most about financial management? I learned a lot from my parents and from my husband. What do you think has been the most profound experience you've had so far in relation to money, good or bad, and what has it taught you since? When I used to travel as a model in different countries, they gave you a weekly allowance and you had to manage it. This taught me to spend only on what I really needed to. How do you think living in the UAE has changed your relationship with and perception of money? I can say that to live well you need money. The equation of money and income (in the UAE) is different compared to European countries. You get a better salary but then you also have to spend more on rent and monthly expenses. But of course, you get a different, better lifestyle and most of all, the UAE is the safest country to live in. If you could give your child or your younger self one piece of advice about money now what would that be and why? Spend only on what you really need because money comes to those who respect it. What do you value spending money on? It depends on what I need at that moment. I do like to pamper myself so there are also some spendings that we can't avoid as ladies. Do you long-term plan your finances, and if so, how? I like investing in real estate. What is your long-term goal or dream which is pegged to your finances? I wish to have a lot of properties in different parts of the world How much do you save each month? Since I'm a business owner, the income might vary, so savings are different. But I try to have a savings account and a different current account. How much do you plan to have by the time you are 65? I can't give a number because depreciation of money is real, so what might seem a lot now might be much less in the future. I try to think 100 times before investing so it's tough to say.
Zawya
44 minutes ago
- Zawya
Saudi trading in US stocks hits record $51.54bln in Q2 2025
RIYADH — Saudi investors' trading activity in U.S. equities surged to an all-time high in the second quarter of 2025, with transactions through licensed financial institutions reaching SR193.4 billion ($51.6 billion), according to data released by the Capital Market Authority (CMA). The figure represents a 230 percent increase from the same period in 2024, when trading totaled SR58.6 billion. On a quarterly basis, it rose 18 percent, or SR29 billion, compared to SR164.3 billion in the first quarter of this year. The CMA noted that while the report captures trading values by licensed Saudi brokers in global markets, it does not include data on the number of Saudi-owned portfolios abroad, nor trades executed directly through foreign intermediaries. The data showed that trading in U.S. markets accounted for 98.6 percent of the SR196.2 billion in total Saudi trading across international markets during the quarter. By comparison, Saudi trading in Gulf equities reached SR2.2 billion, an 88 percent year-on-year increase. Other markets saw limited activity, with Arab markets accounting for SR289 million, European SR157 million, Asian SR78 million, and other markets SR95 million. The CMA's historical data indicates a consistent upward trajectory in Saudi interest in U.S. equities since 2022, with a sharp acceleration beginning in 2024. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
44 minutes ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia to launch voluntary pension and savings scheme for foreign workers
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia is preparing to announce a new voluntary pension and savings program that will be open to both Saudi and foreign workers, according to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) latest Article IV consultation report, cited by Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper. The program is designed to boost household savings and is expected to help curb the outflow of workers' remittances abroad. The Public Pension and Savings Program is anticipated to be unveiled soon. Foreign remittances from Saudi Arabia rose 14 percent last year to SR144.2 billion ($38.4 billion). Over the past decade (2015–2024), they totaled SR1.43 trillion. As of the first quarter of 2025, Saudi Arabia had 12.8 million subscribers in the social insurance system, 77 percent of whom — nearly 10 million — were expatriates. The IMF report noted that recently implemented pension reforms, approved in July 2024, are expected to strengthen long-term financial sustainability. These reforms included raising the retirement age, extending contribution periods, increasing contribution rates, and restricting pension benefits. While the changes are unlikely to generate immediate fiscal savings since the system is currently balanced, the IMF stressed the need to fully assess and disclose the medium-term impact. The upcoming voluntary pension and savings program, open to both Saudis and expatriates, was described as a welcome step that could significantly enhance household savings and reduce external remittances. The IMF also highlighted the size of GOSI's assets, which amount to 32 percent of Saudi Arabia's GDP, underscoring the importance of improving transparency through stronger financial disclosures and clearer allocation rules. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
